DURHAM are hoping to bring back New Zealander Nathan Astle at the end of this month after receiving the shock news that they are to lose skipper Mike Hussey.

After beginning his Durham career with 253 in the innings win at Grace Road in April, Hussey hopes to inflict more damage on Leicestershire in the four-day match starting at Riverside today.

He has two championship games left in which to clinch promotion before leaving for Australia A's trip to Pakistan, for which he has been named as vice-captain. The 14-man squad also includes former Durham players Marcus North, Brad Hodge and Shaun Tait.

Hussey can play against Yorkshire at Scarborough and his final game will be the totesport League match at home to Scotland on August 28.

Durham have four totesport matches after that, plus home championship games against Derbyshire and Northamptonshire.

Astle deputised while Hussey was on Australian one-day duty in midsummer and is currently in Zimbabwe with New Zealand. But he should be available when Hussey departs.

Durham coach Martyn Moxon said: "It's disappointing to lose Mike but an English summer wouldn't be the same for us without this kind of problem.

"They are only playing two four-day games and four one-dayers on the tour, so it's strange they should pick someone of Mike's standing. What are they going to learn about him?

"It would be nice to be promoted in the main event by the time he goes, then Nathan could be useful in the remaining totesport matches."

Durham are also still trying to sign another replacement bowler as Ashley Noffke's deputy, Mick Lewis, has to fly back to Australia after next Tuesday's floodlit match against Leicestershire.

The visitors have moved above Durham into third place in the one-day league, but are next to the bottom of the championship with only two wins.

Durham will hand a championship debut to Western Australia swing bowler Callum Thorp today and opening batsman James Lowe will make his first appearance of the season.

They replace Mark Davies and Gary Scott, who are not being risked after missing the final day at Southend last Saturday.

"They have been playing through their injuries, but have not been able to finish games," said Moxon. "There comes a point where you have to get it right, but hopefully they'll be fully fit in another week.''

Lowe made 80 on his championship debut against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl two years ago, but did not feature again until he played in the last two games of last season, totalling 91 in four innings.

It has been confirmed that left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge has a stress fracture of the back. He now has to decide whether his season is over or to have an injection, which would allow him to play for the last few weeks.

Durham (from): M E K Hussey (capt), J A Lowe, P D Collingwood, G J Muchall, D M Benkenstein, G R Breese, P Mustard, C Thorp, M Davies, M L Lewis, G Onions, G M Hamilton.

l The one crumb of comfort for Yorkshire on a tough day at Taunton was that the bonus points which they picked up were enough for them to replace Essex in the third promotion spot.

For most of the time, however, their bowlers had to focus on trying to restrain Somerset opener Matt Wood, who plundered an unbeaten 182 on a good batting pitch and led his side to 373 for five at the close when they were only 33 runs behind on the first innings.

Yorkshire set out on 377 for seven. Richard Dawson made sure they would get to 400 and a fifth batting bonus point the tail soon capsized to Andrew Caddick who grabbed three wickets in six balls to finish with six for 96.

Chris Silverwood put in an admirable opening spell but he had no luck and with the score on 24 he had John Francis dropped at first slip when Phil Jaques could not hold a simple chance.

Yorkshire's most effective bowler was Anthony McGrath who, in a ten over spell, had Francis and James Hildreth caught by Ismail Dawood, Francis sparring at a wide ball outside off stump after adding 116 with Wood and Hildreth glancing too finely.